Freight Pulse & Law Update: Port Queues Hit a Record, Bankruptcies Mount, CBP Expands Coastal Enforcement

Global container queues have reached a record 4.31 million TEUs of vessel capacity at anchor: above the 2022 pandemic peak. The immediate takeaway: shippers face higher rates, weaker schedule reliability, rising counterparty risk, and expanded maritime enforcement.

Why are port queues and freight rates rising?

The 2026 El Niño is driving two connected disruptions: a Western Pacific typhoon cluster and drought conditions affecting the Panama Canal. Only 60%–65% of vessels are arriving on schedule.

• Shanghai–New York: $9,507 per 40-foot container

• Shanghai–Los Angeles: $6,802 per 40-foot container

• Both rates rose 9% week-on-week as of August 20

• Maersk raised full-year EBITDA guidance to $10.5 billion–$12.5 billion

Maersk also warned that bottlenecks are moving “from ships to the land side,” putting pressure on terminals, drayage, warehouses, rail, and final-mile capacity. Read the TechTimes port queue report.

Which freight companies have filed for bankruptcy?

FreightWaves reports at least 21 transportation and logistics companies filed Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 between July 27 and August 25. Filings included:

• BFG Supply: $100 million–$500 million in assets and liabilities, 15 warehouses, 100,000+ creditors

• Jet-Speed Logistics: freight forwarding and customs brokerage

• Inclusive Logistics: cross-border logistics

• Royal Cold Storage: refrigerated warehousing

• R3 Hauling and AP Freight: small trucking carriers

Review the full FreightWaves bankruptcy report before relying on financially stressed vendors.

What changed under CBP’s new coastal rule?

Effective August 25, 91 FR 54800 establishes Customs-Enforcement Areas off South Florida, Central/Southern California, Puerto Rico, and the Texas Gulf Coast. CBP may board, examine, seize, and arrest within designated waters extending enforcement authority from 12 to 24 nautical miles.

What should shippers do now?

During CVSA Brake Safety Week, August 23–29, verify brake drums, rotors, air lines, and inspection records before dispatch.

Use third party logistics providers and supply chain management companies that can document performance. Lanta Logistics provides 3PL fulfillment services, a food-grade warehouse, Hazmat certified 3PL operations, and Mid-Atlantic fulfillment from its Glen Burnie warehouse. For inventory management for ecommerce, a warehouse management system, and logistics software, FlowOps by Lanta delivers real-time visibility across inventory, dispatch, and shipments.

Action takeaway: audit carriers, confirm compliance records, build schedule buffers, and contact Lanta Logistics for resilient supply chain execution.